Redblacks QB Trevor Harris a 'private guy,' but also the centre of attention

As a Canadian Football League quarterback, as the highest-paid guy on the Ottawa Redblacks — playing on a one-year contract worth about $450,000 — Trevor Harris knows he’s under the microscope.

While being the poster boy of a franchise isn’t necessarily something he seeks out, Harris knows what he does on the football field will be dissected forward, backward and sideways. When the Redblacks lose and we’re looking for somebody to blame, fingers will point in his direction.

While it isn’t Harris’s fault that his team has lost the past two games — he has actually played very well at times in the 40-32 overtime loss against Winnipeg and the 34-16 defeat in Edmonton— he’s been the guy taking the snaps, the guy sacked nine times. Against the Blue Bombers, Harris passed for 349 yards, but much of that was in a frenetic 15-point rally in the final 4 1/2 minutes of regulation time. Against the Eskimos, Harris had 291 yards passing, but just 64 in the final 30 minutes.

Redblacks quarterback Trevor Harris is sacked by Eskimos defensive lineman Alex Bazzie during the second half of last Saturday’s game in Edmonton.AMBER BRACKEN /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

“I don’t mind the pressure,” Harris said Tuesday. “But I’m more of a private guy. In high school, I used to ask the newspaper guy to not post my picture in the paper. I don’t like when it’s my birthday because I don’t like the attention. When things go bad, the quarterback’s going to get a lot of criticism or the blame. When things aren’t going well, it’s not just the quarterback, and, when things go well, it’s not just the quarterback. It’s a team game.”

There has been criticism of Harris, of the Redblacks’ offensive line, of the coaches’ play-calling. It goes with the territory for Harris, though he cut himself off Twitter at the beginning of the Canadian Football League season to stay away from the negativity.

“Everybody has a right to their opinion,” Harris said. “In social media, you have a voice. We appreciate our fans. But the things that matter are what’s said in the locker room. (Some of the criticism), it’s comical, really. I’ve watched the film. I know what’s going on. It’s not the fact they’re dumb opinions, but it’s uneducated at some points. Sometimes people hit the nail on the head, but sometimes it’s not so good. To say I’m affected by it would be wrong. There are a lot of lazy opinions out there. Obviously you care about what people’s opinions are, but you have to value more the opinions of people who truly know what’s going on.”

The Redblacks have not done nearly enough over two quarters and a bit to win their past two games. Given that their next three games, starting with Friday night’s home-field matchup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, will determine whether they finish first in the CFL East Division and get a bye into the division final, now would be a good time to step it up.

Redblacks quarterback Trevor Harris looks for a teammate on a pass play during the first half of last Saturday’s contest.AMBER BRACKEN /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

“It was tough (in Edmonton last Saturday),” Harris said. “Defensively we couldn’t get off the field, offensively we couldn’t stay on the field. It was one of those games where we weren’t helping out our D and they weren’t helping us out. We didn’t make any big plays. It was one of those ones you chalk up as a loss as a team, for sure.

“We didn’t play playoff football the last 30 minutes of the game. We have to make sure we’re firing on all cylinders, like we were in the first half, for full games. The time’s now. We have to put up or shut up. We have to make sure we bring it for all 60 minutes every single game the rest of the year. There are no excuses. There’s no question we have to be better. It’s an opinion that resonates with our fans and in our locker room. We have to be better … and we will be.”

Asked if his health was in issue, if he was banged up, Harris said, “I’m probably (feeling) just like everybody else. I feel good enough to play. Not good enough to play with my kid for a bunch of hours, but good enough to play in a game. I’m not alone in not feeling well at this point of the season.”

INJURY REPORT: It was interesting to see Josue Matias practising at right tackle with first-teamers Tuesday. Jason Lauzon-Séguin, who has been the starter at that position, was also at practice. Since the Redblacks went with two American offensive linemen (and three Canadians) in 2015 — SirVincent Rogers and Colin Kelly — would they try it again? “We’ll have to see,” Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell said. “It’s Game 16 (coming up). We have a few guys taking a day (off). (Matias is) definitely a capable guy that could play if we need him.” … Linebacker Avery Williams, injured in Saturday’s game at Edmonton, was not on the field. “He has to get another test done (Tuesday),” Campbell said. “It did not look good during the game, but thankfully he’s going to be all right. We’re hoping he’s back sooner rather than later. We don’t know the time period when he’ll be back, but I know he was saying that he was feeling way better.” It seems likely Chris Ackie will step in at weak-side linebacker with Kyries Hebert in the middle. Defensive back Antoine Pruneau was also absent Tuesday.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: With so much still be decided in the final three weeks of the regular season, here’s what we know: Montreal and Toronto have been eliminated; Ottawa, Hamilton and Calgary have clinched home playoff games; the fourth-place West Division team will cross over to the East for the third consecutive season; Saskatchewan has clinched a playoff spot. A Calgary win against Saskatchewan this weekend would clinch first in the West and the right to host the Nov. 18 division final for the Stampeders. A B.C. win over Edmonton would clinch a playoff spot. A Saskatchewan win and a B.C. loss or tie would secure a home playoff game for the Roughriders. Ottawa must win two of its last three games to lock up first place in the East.

END AROUND: There are less than 2,000 tickets left for Friday’s 7 p.m. game. Ottawa travels to Hamilton for a game next Saturday before closing out the regular season at home against Toronto on Nov. 2 … The Argos have signed former Redblacks running back Travon Van and defensive back Caleb Ham, son of former Canadian Football Hall of Fame QB Tracy Ham … The Redblacks are ranked sixth in the CFL’s Nissan Titan Power Rankings. The Ticats have moved up to No. 1, ahead of Calgary, Winnipeg, B.C. and Edmonton. Saskatchewan dropped from No. 2 to 7 … Harris remains fourth in the CFL Rockstar QB Index. The new leader is Edmonton’s Mike Reilly, followed by Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell and Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli.

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